China-US youth pickleball tournament builds cross-cultural ties

The 2026 China-US Youth Pickleball Friendship Tournament was held on Tuesday at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Student representatives from a study tour group from Iowa and students from Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School took part in the event.

The tournament aims to use pickleball as a new bridge for cultural exchange, fostering the next generation of ambassadors for China-US friendship and contributing to the development of bilateral relations, according to the organizers.

Zuo Yining, an 18-year-old senior from Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, teamed up with an American teenage partner during the matches and spoke highly of their seamless coordination on court.

"We barely needed verbal communication amid intense rallies. A simple eye contact or gesture was enough for us to figure out when to run and catch the ball together," Zuo said.

He said the experience helped build lasting friendships between Chinese and American youngsters. "A single match, a casual meal or small talk can easily bring teenagers close. The US students I met are warm, sincere and outgoing," he noted.

With extensive experience hosting foreign visitors at school, Zuo has maintained contact with overseas friends via WeChat after previous exchange activities. One foreign friend is scheduled to revisit China in August, and Zuo has invited the guest to stay at his home.

"We have cultural differences, but every teenager here, regardless of nationality, has a warm and open heart."

Laura Michelle Kelly, the US high school teacher leading the Iowa student group, said all 42 teenagers in the delegation are visiting China for the first time. The group will travel across Beijing and Shanghai during their seven-day stay.

Kelly said she was impressed by the warm reception. "Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming, making this journey fantastic," she said.

She added that pickleball, which has grown rapidly in popularity across US schools and community parks in recent years, serves as an ideal icebreaker for cross-cultural communication.

"Pickleball creates a relaxed atmosphere that combines healthy competition and teamwork. It is a lighthearted way for young people from different countries to get to know one another," she said.

Kelly noted that previous Iowa student groups that visited China had shared positive experiences after returning home, sparking growing curiosity about China among more local teenagers. She also expressed hope for reciprocal exchanges, welcoming Chinese student groups to visit Iowa in the future.

Carrigan Grace Rasmussen, a 15-year-old student from Iowa, described the trip as "extremely fun".

As a pickleball enthusiast, she said the sport is highly popular in her community, with many friends regularly playing together.

She emphasized sportsmanship as an important bridge connecting young people from different countries. "Competitions help us build close bonds. When either side makes mistakes, we can cheer each other up and offer support," she said.